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How to Shoe a Hor^c 



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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS' PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN 

HORSESHOEING AND TREATING 

OF LAME HORSES. 



M Brcati6c 



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ON THE SHOEING AND TREATMENT OF DISEASED 

FEET, WITH THEIR CARE, AND GIVING 

SOME or THE BEST REMEDIES 

IN USE FOR MAN 

OR BEAST. 



Bt ^. El. Watt©, 

VETERINARY HORSESHOER, 

1020 NORTH KANSAS AVE., TOPEKA, KAS. 



I=I^IOE, OISTE JDOX^Hj^^JEI. 




I. W. PACK PRINTING Co., 115 East 7th St. Topeka, Kansas. 



£t2^^^^4^ 




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Mo\v' to' Shoe a-Hor^c, 



OR 



TWENTY-FIVE YEARS' PRACTICAL EXPERT 

ENCE IN HORSESHOEING AND 

TREATING OF LAME 

HORSES. 



p ^rcati6e 

ON THE SHOEING AND TREATMENT OF DISEASED FEET 

WITH THEIR CARE, AND GIVING SOME OF 

THE BEST REMEDIES IN USE FOR 

MAN OR BEAST. -^^^oP^K^^, 



: Copyrighted i88g 'tAl^ / 

VETERINARY HORSESHOER, 

1020 NORTH KANSAS AVE., TOPEKA, KANSAS. 



Printed by the I. W. PiCI PRINTIKG CO., 115 ti .7th St.,Topeka, Kansas. 



Si- 




Errata. 

Page 9, 15th line from top read "salt," inatead of 
''salts." 

Page 9, 9th line from the bottom, read '-will not 
bed," instead of "will bed." 

Page 11, >ast line, read "navicular." 

Page 25, 2nd line under head of "Seedy Tee,'* 
read "burning" instead of "burying." 

Page 32, read Ist head "Navieular." 

Page 32, read second head "Gravel," not "Garvel." 



Author's Preface. 



^Pheo'rjectof theTFriterio bringiDg this woik before 
^ the public IS to treat on a subject tliat may be 
termed a newdepartare. Having bad twenty-five years 
experience in practical horse shoeiDg, and having made 
a specialty of the treating and shoeing of horses that 
had become lame from improper shoeing and trefttment 
of that noble animal aud best frieud of man, and having 
h id nnparalelled success in the cure of the many differ- 
ent diseases of the feet, and knowing the evils arising 
from improper shoeing and management of horses, the 
author brings this lifcile book to the cotice of ow^nera 
and raatagers of horses, as well as tbe horseshoers of 
thiscoantry with a three-fold purpose in view: (1) To 
allevi'^te the sufferings of tbe horse caused by ignorance 
or ciirelessness, or both; (2) That all persons who may 
own or have the care of horses may have a proper un- 
dtjrirt inding of how a horse should be shod, also, how 



their feet may be properly cured of diseases arisicg 
fiom accident or Bhoeing; (3) That all blackemithe, &nd 
especially those who shoe horses may know how to shoe 
horses according to scientific principles, and have a guide 
in the experience of one who has made the subject a life 
study that they may learn how to prevent laraeness in 
the feet as well as cure it. 

If this little book will do this the author will feel as 
though his efforts nave not been altogether wasted. As 
it is the intention to do good to his fellow man, as well 
as to the horse, rather than to the making of money, ho 
places the price within the reach of all. "With malice 
toward n«Be, but charity for all," 

I remain. Yours Truly; 

J. B. Watts, 

Veterinary Horeeshoer. 



r RATERNITY. 

[here should be a fraternal organization of horeMho- 
ers aod blacksmiths for the purpose of estBbli(>hing 
a more fri*ndl^ feeling within the Craft; as well to ben- 
efit each oher in business. They should meet together 
atst'ited tim-8 and consu t regarding the best methods 
of doing work, regulat* tb© prices of diifferent classes of 
work and to keep each other posted as regards frauds 
and deadbeatH both in and out of the trade. I think 
snch an organization would be better than a union. I 
mean a societ^j th&t will take in all the Craft, whether a 
proprietor op he' per, so he is of good moral habits and 
oonforms to the rales oC the societv. I have long 
thought that there ought to be something of this kind. 
If such a -^oaiety waa organized there would not be so 
much animositj existing between tb« members of the 
Craft. I know plenty of sjaitbs who have the bighead 
so bad that they thiDk ne one knows anything but 
themselves, and that no person should pretend to work 
in a lo^n bat themselves; I have in my mind's ey« now 
more than one psrsoa who is "built" just that way. 

I have bad it said to me that I must have a vast 



6 How TO Shoe A Hobse. 

amount of cheek to set up a shop in Topeka among so 
many shops and good workmen. One went so far as to 
say tbat I did not know how to shoe a horse for a city 
or pavement, when he never worked in a city or for any 
pavement except black mud. 

Now, I say, give every man a fair show. It does not 
make any difiference where they are from, as long as they 
are j ast and honorable. Let us try to cultivate a mo/e 
fraternal spirit, whether we form a society or not; the 
horseshoer should be a man in every eense of the word 
and he should feel as though there was a great respocsi- 
bility resting upon him when he is engaged in horee- 
shoc^iDg, bacause he may by either ignorance of the 
structure of the horse's foot, or a little carelessness 
cause the unfortunate animal a great deal of suffering^ 
while it would injure the owner as well. Think about 
this, fellow Craftsmen, and let ua study to elevate the 
standing of our occupation both as a business and in 
the eyes @f the public. 

The Structure of the Hoof. 

^Phe external or covering of the foot should be divided 
^ into four parts, viz : tne wall or crust, sometimes 
called the shell of the fout, the so'e, bars, and horn j, or 
insensible frog; the external parts act as a protec ion to 
theinternal or sensitive portions of the foot, it is porous, 
or filled with hollow tubes in such a manmr as to pre- 
serve each ca. al distinct. Theee canals carry off the tx- 
crementionsor wastematterof Ihe hrof, and in them are ^ 
found the vessels by which the same are secrtted. 

The small vessels in the vascular and nervous meoQ- 
brane, beneath the hoof is a continuatioa of the true 
skin entering into the carals; also these ^mall vessels 



How TO Shoe a Hoese. 7 

poS'.ess the propertieg of sensibiiitj and con<5ucfors; 
they have functions to perform which in the healthy s-tare 
nothing else can perform without injarj to the other parJs. 
The bars are the continuatioQ of the wall or crust forming 
HB angle at the heels and cndiog in front of the frog near 
the toe. They give strength and durability to the foot, 
prevents contraction at the heels and j rotect the sensi- 
tive parts of the hoof. As long as the walls and bars 
are left in their natural condition the foot will be pre- 
served in their natural f^raa. 

The sole is more elastic than the wall and is the me- 
dium of the sensitive paits through which the powers of 
elasticity, the percussion or concussion of the feet on the 
ground is regnlated. The horny frog is more elastic 
than either of the otber parts, and is intended *^o take 
the jar off the foot and legs of the horse and should 
never be pared with the knife in the lea^t. On the in- 
side of the wall or crust will be found a sec of leaves or 
lamina, resembling the under p&rt of a mufh com; they 
number about five hun i red, which fits a similar number 
found in cofiia bone. Each lamina hes two sides on 
edge, making about three thousand articulations and 
representing a surface of four square feet, giving the 
body of the horse sixteen square feet, within the hoofs, to 
rest upon. The hoof is to protect the sensitive paits 
within. It may be rendered hard or soft by proper 
treatment, its fo^m may be altered for better or worse, 
by shoeii)g, or by proper, or improper attention in the 
stable. 

Horseshoeing a Necessary Evil. 

^Phe horse in a wild state never needs any shoeing or 
^T® pioti etion to the foot, exceps what God gave him 
he can run over all kinds of ground and never get lame 



8 How TO Shoe a Horse. 

Who ever heard of a colt having contracted feet, eoms 
or quarter craeks? Take a colt that has nerer been 
used and he baa a wide, sound foot, the heels are wide 
and open ; the feot ie widest at the quarter, if you take 
a rule and measure it, you will generally find it wider 
at the quarter than it is long. The fiog is wide aed 
spongy, and oonaesi well down on the grouud for the 
protection of the feet, seting as a cushion against the 
jar of the foot and legs, giving the horse a springy easy 
motion. 

Now after a few years service, or through improper 
oareby man you will find the heels drawn in and under 
the foot narrow and long, or, in other words, contractetl. 
The animal ha«i lost that easy motioEk and goes blunder- 
ing along as if bis legs had been broken, then the 
trouble is laid to everything else except the shoe ng. 

Shoeing ia am evil because it is nn injury to shoe a 
horse; a necessary evil because the manner in whioh he 
is treated by some men would Foon reduce him to no 
feet at all if be were not shod. I will say, though, that 
I have personal knowledge of horses, in T(>peka, tbat 
are driven winter and summer over the different kiods 
of pavements, UQshod on their hind feet, an«i they seem to 
be all right. 

It ia the rough rjads and hnrd pavements tbat the 
horse ia constantly wo-kiog on, the ataodiDg on dry 
plank floers which absorbs all the moisture of the fott, 
and then if ii is not shod properly will soon become so 
lame that the horse can hardly use it/ 



How TO Shoe A Hoksf. 9 

Care of the Feet. 

^fho feet should receive cons^^aDfc httenticn, to keep 
^ thpm in g«^od condtion; evei-y borse owner sbouid 
have a trough or tub to batbe the anfmars feet in, and 
should give them a good bath overyday. If the feet 
are sonnd thnt wUl keep t' em in good coDdid-: n, but in 
case they become hard it will be well to poultice them 
with either a flax seed (r bran pou'tico. To make the 
latter takfe a bucket r f wafer, put in some wood ashes 
and let it pit until the water begins to feel elick to the 
hand, then ponr in Eome brnn nnd your poultice is com- 
pleted. If the foot is much fevered it will take two or 
three applicatioop to accorapl eh Tour object. The mad 
bath I .ilso recommentl : take good clean clay nnd thin 
it with wiiter. add a double hHudful of palts, this wiH 
take the fever out of the foot and make tbem grow fast. 
Never have a horse f^hod if hift feet ore very hard if jou 
can help it, bnt get them in gcod oond'tion first. 

To Shoe a Horse Properly. 

HrShe f-hoe for the front foot pbould, as a rriip, bo a wide 
®i® web shoe, 8nd large enough to follow ih« foot 
around to tie heelw and extending a litfle back, so that 
when the foot gro^s will brd in the heels. The foot 
should be dresse'l as nfar as na<U'e intended it to be as 
poFsible. Do not cut away the heels too much, the frog 
should not be cut at all, nor the bars more than snflioi- 
erit to level the foot; open the hee's between the bars nnd 
the frog, cut them well down if grown together. Take 
no more of the f^oV thnn the dead erupt, fit your shoe so 
it will lay flush all around the foot and cover the heel 
and bars, extending only a short distance back of the 



10 How TO Shoe a Horse 

heels; make the shoe level before you fit it on. Have 
(ha shoe for any kind of a foot beveled slightly at the 
heels from the uail holes outward; in the case of a flat 
foot the shoe may be codc ived a little. Cool the shoe 
before trying ifc o j, enough so it will n(?t burn the foot, 
have the ho'e'^ small enough s) the na^ls will fit in tight, 
do not let the bearing be heavy on the heels; h-t the 
shoe be perfectly level an i then level the f -ot with tie 
knife and rasp; leave at lea^t a half- inch of the so'e ^ven 
with the (iu';ride wall so that it will recieve a part of the 
bearing of the shoe; do not use large n^iils as they only 
injure t'.e foot Do not drive the nails very high, ex- 
cept in a bad fo t vhere it is impossible to get a good 
hold vihoat. H ve the heels in the web of the shoe 
broad enough so that they will cover the heels and bars, 
they should extend over the foot from the quarters back 
to the heels. Let the shoe be flush with the foot all 
around; when so £t^ed then will be bu«: little filing to be 
done, too much filing will spoil the enamel of fie hoof. 
If sh eiog for cobtracted feet bevel the IbbIs of the 
shoe oufc consider ibly ; wh3u you are resettiuga shoe Gut 
all the eliuchea befo-e pull n^ tbe shoe, because of the 
danger of injury to the foot. I once saw a man take a 
pair of pinch ts f^nd wrench on a shoe and burst the 
foot open and loose from 'he wall of the hoof about two 
inches. I never would allo^ any man d > that kind of 
business in my shop. After tbe shoes are takes off pare 
d )wu t le go vth of f ie ^oot and as you will generally 
find the toe uejds the most, aUvaj s take off all that is 
1 eedtd from the botto n, so there will bd cone to be cut 
off oa the outside. If a fitter cannot fit a shoe to it 
can be put on without filing off a lot of the hoof, he is 



How TO Shoe A Hoese. 11 

Dot much of a fitter. AUvays bear in micd that a gcod 
6h er .will el ways save the foot and keep it in its natural 
ehape, save the heels, bare and frog, and remember that 
no frog, no foot; no foot, no hor e. 

The way horses are usually sbod by the a^verage 
horse-shoer, the shoe ^'s gen<^ rally one eize to short, atd 
to make a better profit, the smith uses altogetb^^ a hitd 
shoe, which is a narrow web shoe, and weighs ]e?s than 
a front or wide web shoe, and to make it have the ap- 
peHrarce of being long enoueh will bring it straight 
back from the quaiterp, instead ff following the rim of 
the foot pround la <he hf els fs be should do, thereby 
catting across the quarters or wall of the hoof and pre- 
venting the ff^ot from having the action that nature in- 
tended, and that is the expansion at the heels to keep it 
from compacting. But the shoe cute down in the 
quarters and being usually beveled in at the heels, or, 
concaved all the way back, sooa coatracts the heels and 
quarters and b}' hurling the foot < nd causing it to fever 
and getting dry is the caute of coins, quarter crack and 
contracted foot. Besides, the t-hoes will be beveled in at 
tLo heel so fhat the shoe will keep crowding at that 
poitt; fcuch sboeirg as that will in a short time ruin the 
best foot on any horse. It prevents the natural actioa 
of the heels, which into expand; the shoe soon buries 
down in the quarter and will cause the horse to go lame 
in a phoit time, or to favor his foot when standing 
The foot is eron dr;', hard and feverish. 

Arrtbtr way is to cu*^^ away the heels and 
leave the toe, and throw the weight back on the h els, 
reealtiog in straining the tendcns and the coffin joint, 
a good way to caufe i oiiculer dieease. Another o(m 



12 How TO Shoe a Horse. 

moil practice is to fit the foot to the shoe, instead of the 
shoe to the foot ; because the fitter caunot fit the foot, 
and because it is easier and quicker done. Then the 
practice of cutting away the frog and bars and also set- 
ting the shoe back and cu'ting and filiog the toe off, 
and rasping almodt, if liot quite to the hair to make it 
look nice. Shoeing of that kind will take the eye of the 
average man and they will say it is a fine job. I want 
to say right here, that the moat of the blame for poor 
shoeing is with the owners as they either dictate to the 
smith and Siy : "I v/ant it done just so," and not know- 
ing aiythiug ab ut; it wiil look at the outside finish and 
if the hoof h raspei up to the hair it is a good job. 

Somet mes you will see a man pick up the foot and 
the firs: thing he does is to trim the frog or cut and 
carve on it, because it is easy to cu^ then cut out the 
bars and cut away the heels to make the foot look long 
and narro*v, then heat a shoe and burn it level, only be- 
cause he either cann.jt level a shoe without, or, he does 
it to make the foot soft so he can cut it easy, careiug 
nothing about the feeliags of the hi.-rse, or the injury he 
does, or eLe it is ignojaijce. It makes no dift'erence 
which, no such man should be allowtd to shoe a horse. 
Then some will ta'-e a shoe and fit it tight on the heels 
and toe leaving a space under it at the sides of the foot, 
drawing it down with large nails to make it stay on, 
whi h it will do to the injury of the foot, binding the 
heels and causing c ■rn'', or make the corns fester, giving 
the horse gre it pain. But the majority of hor-e own- 
ers think that is a fir-t clas^e job because the shoes stay 
on until worn out. Ynu will see houie set their shoe 
back from the toe and then rasp it down and up to the 



How TO Shoe a Horse. 13 

)iair, almost, and of course that is a first-class job, be- 
cause o£ the fine finish on the outside of the foot. Now 
what in the name of common sense was the foot put on 
a horse for? Only for some ignoramus to learn to us© 
a knife and rasp on? 

It is only a short time until your horse is beginning 
to favor his feet by pointing them one at a time out in 
front of him to relieve the soreness of the foot, and also 
of the tendons that become inflamed and contracted. 
Yet in driving he may not show any lameness for a long 
time, but when he dots then the disease is so far advanc- 
ed that it will be some time before the best smith or 
veterinary can make any show toward curing or relieve- 
ing the animal, but if you will tdko the horse as soon as 
you find that he is favoring the foot by resting it in 
front of him, to the beat shoer in the place, one that is 
known to the public ag a veterinary horse-ehoer, and 
who can give the best reasons for his theory as a sheer, 
and besides a man who can tell you about your horses* 
actioQS,]ust as well as j on can yourself,that is the kind of 
a man to employ to shoe or treat your horse, and not one 
who has put the most of his time in prepairing a Set of 
sboss to be put up as a show, when, as a rule, he does 
not know as much about a horse's foot as a hog does 
about war. Never allow any man to shoe a horse that 
will fib with a hot shoe, or one that will pare away the 
frog, because every time a kuife is cut in to the frog it 
just injures the foot to that extent, and burning is only 
done because the smith either cannot fit a shoe without, 
or ha does not care for the foot, so he can get the work 
done the quickest way possible without regard o the 
foelings of the horse or the injury he is doing the owner. 



l4 How TO Shoe A Horse. 

An other way of doing is to fit the shoe so it will rest 
on the heels and at the toe and the balance of the shoe 
does not tDUoh the foot by from one eigth to one -fourth 
of an inch, and then take large Dsils and draw the shoe 
tight down ou the foot t j make it stay on which it sure- 
ly will do, to the injury of the foot. But as the major- 
ity of horse owners do not caie for anything except the 
shoe staying on until worn oat, that would be consider- 
ed a first-class job. Another wrong is to pare the heels 
and frog down and then set the shoe back about half 
an inch and then cut tbe shell or wall of the h :of all 
away at the toe with a toe knife, and then rasp it down 
smooth almost to the hair and make it look nice. But 
what do3S it matter with the owner or driver so it looks 
well on the outside? that makes it a good job; now 
whdt in the name of common sense was the wall or crust 
put CD the fojt for if not for protection. Then why 
not fifc the shoe to the wall, or crust of the foot, after 
first dressing the foot down in a proper manner by 
Having tha he^ls, frog and bars, taking the toe down to 
its proper level as any good judge could see at a glance, 
not allowing the bearing to be hird on the heels. The back 
parUrof the shoes from the last nail beveled outward, 
and not more than six or seven nails, not large ones, the 
largest horse need not have larger than No. 7; if the 
holes are not too large for the nails, and if the na Is fit 
the holes, the shoe will stay on long enough with small 
nails. The author has shod a horse weighing 1900 
pounds with No. 7 nails and u-ed No. 5 and 6 nails on 
No. 4 and 5 shoes and the shoes seemed to hold all right. 
Soma smiths, and the majority of horse owners, seem to 
think t'lat the larger the nail the better, but I say the 
smaller nail will hold better than the large, because it 



How TO Shoe a Horse. 15 

doeg not split the hoof so much. While in lUinvis a 
man, a farmer, came to my shop and asked how large 
nails lused and I tjld him I had from 5's to 8's and he 
still wanted larger and cursed the smiths because they 
do not use larger nails. I told him I would not ose 
nails larger than 8's, and if that did not suit him he 
could go to some other shop. I would much ratker 
that some one else would do their work if they do not 
have any more sense than that. 

At another time Prof. D. P. Hurlbut, the great hors» 
trainer, came to my shop and wanted to know the size of 
nails I u?ed and I told him the same, and he said he 
wished I had No. 4's. So you see th» difference when a 
a man knows his business or understands the nature of 
the feet. It seems to be natural for some persons to 
want all they can get for their money, and I think some- 
times that is the leason they want large nails. In St. 
John, Kansas, in 1887, a man that had charge of a livery 
stable came to my shop and wanted a horse shod and 
stated that they never had any shoes put on the horses, 
but whit they had to be pul!ed off because the horses 
became lame. He said he would try me and if the 
horses did not get lame he would bring others, I told 
him if I could not shoe his horses without their getting 
lacne I did not want his trade. I asked him to bring 
the oae t'aat was the most lame;he said he had the worst 
case with him; [ shod him and after that he brought the 
balance of his horses and he never had a lame horse 
while I shod them. 

Iq 1874 while working for Mr. Wm. Cook in Lincoln, 
Neb., a man brought a trotting mare in to the shop and 
told Mr. Cook, the proprietor, that she was still lame 



16 How TO Shoe A Horse. 

and was getting worse instead of better. Cook sai ■ he 
had done all he knew for her and would give up as he 
did not know what ailed her, and he claimed to be the 
best horaeshoer in the city,or state. He was a Canadian 
and they as a rule do not like to give up to any perron 
as knowing any more than they do themselves. So he 
asked me to come and see the foot and tell him what was 
the trouble in case I knew, I told him that fill the 
trouble was her feet were contracted. He said he did 
not believe it. The owner wanted to know if I could 
help her any by shoeing, I told him I could; so he told 
me to try her. I did so and told him to come back in 
three weeks, which he did and was well p'e^^sed and in 
three months she was all right. 

I have made the foot of the horse a study anr^ h'^^w 
best to shoe them that wouM be a benefit to them, in- 
ptead of an injury, as i^ generally the ca^e. Whenever 
I could find a man that kne^, or claimed to know, any- 
thing about the foot or bow to shoe a torse I was al- 
ways willing to learn and rendy to pay for their know- 
ledge, and by getting a little here and a lit'Ie there I by 
experimenting and noticing the result, I have been suc- 
cessful beycmd all expecvation. When I c immeDced the 
business I said I would maf-ter the business of cureing 
lameness in horses' feet, and now I am not eehamed to 
go before the public and let my work show fnr itself. 
I have made it a rule for years when a man brought a 
horse to my shop to be shod that T wou'd do a good job 
and for the benefit of the horse and if a boy cams he 
got just as good a job as any person, and if snme man 
came with a horse and said that he wanted the she s 
put on just so and I knew that it was wron^ or an in- 
jury to the horse I would not do it and if I cou^d not 



How TO Shoe a Ho«se. 17 

coDTince him that it would Dot do I ^ould tell him I 
would rather ke would go to soaae othsr shop and hare 
the work done. 

There are too many smiths, aa well bb horse owners, 
that do not care anything about the feelings of the poor 
horse, only so it answers the purpose of the present and 
they get their money. Oae cau«e of poor shoeiog is the 
fault of men vvho briog a hor^e to the shop with a lot ot 
old shoes and it may be one good shoe in the lot and no 
two alike, too large or too email, and holes too large to 
mtike ths lar^e t nail Jill tbem and want the smith to 
put them on and if the smith objects or tells him that the 
shoes will not do, he will insist on having them put on 
and say : "Oh! I Ooly want them on for a few days, and 
then I will have them taken off." They have a load or 
two to pull, or a trip to make, and then as a rule the 
smith puts them on and nine times out of ten the shoes 
will stay on until worn out, or the horse gets lame, and 
then the smith gets a cursing for doing a poor job. Be- 
sides some one will ask who done that job and the 
man will always tell who, but always fails to Bay it 
was done as he ordered it done. So you see that th© 
smith gets the blame when the owner shoald have it. 
I woald much rather a man of that kind would go to 
some other shop for his work, as it would be money in 
my pocket; and when a man brings me a lot of old shoes 
that are not good enough and will not let me put on 
new ones, I will give him a better shoe than the ones he 
brought and throw his shoes in the scrap pile. A man 
in Topeka, Kansas, brought a horse to me to have shod. 
The horse whs contracted in both feet and the worst 
kind of corns, and he wanted me to put the shoes on as 



18 How TO Shoe a Hokse. 

he wanted them. H« wanted them about an inoh wider at 
the heels than the foot, and of course I had to object and 
he eaid he would not have it done any other way. I 
told him to go to some other shop as I would not do ik 
that way, aa I always fit the foot and would do it no 
other way. Finally he agreed to have it done my way, 
but if the horse went lame I woul i have to take them 
off aDd pnt them on his way. I toLi him I would not 
put them on his way but would return his money; but 
ha has cot yet comg back for it, but has hod the shoes 
reset and eaid I could shoe him to suit myself. No 
man who owns a hor^se bat who o jght to kaow enough 
about a horae's foo' to knovv just liow much ou<(ht to be 
taken off when shod. Bat very few horses want any of 
the sole taken off — only the daad sole or growth of tke 
foot when the shee is left on some trme. 

I do not want to be understood that all horseshoers 
as a class, ara ignorant or ctireless aoout how they do 
their work, but I do say, as I have said be*ore, that 
impropper shoeing ia the primary cause of nearly all the 
lameness in the feet, and more than that, nearly all the 
lameness in the limbs. I want to be understood when 
I say there is no such thing as a horse being stoved m 
the shoulder, as a great mauy smiths as well as horse- 
men say, for the reason that every one of that kind can 
be benefited by shoaiog. I will stake my reputation ns 
a shoer that I can take the worst ease of the kind that 
can be found and will guarantee to give relief at once 
and do nothing only work on the feet. B it when a 
horseshoer and one having a premium on a case of 
shoes, as a horseshoer would say, to a man who under- 
stauds his business, that it does not make a d — n bit of 
difference how a shoe ia put on the foot, just so the 



How TO Shoe a HomsE. 19 

owner wili^take eare of the fet>t. Why not say that it 
makes no differenee what kind of a boot you wear, if 
you take care of your feet, they will not hurt yoa! 

There are a great many men ia the business who do 
not knov? bow to shoe a horse, because they never had a 
chance to learn, th« men with whom they were apprenticed 
could not learn them anything, except to nail on shoes 
aad pog^ibly make them stay on a long time to the 
injury of the foot. As long as a shoe will stay on 
and the horee does not go lame, it is allright. Then 
there are some who will listen to every maa who brings 
a horse to the shop aud says hi wanta his horse shod 
"just so." Of course, i' .ne smith does not fully under- 
stand how the job ought to be done he will pul; the 
shoes on so the horse wil after a while go lame, and 
then the horse is either sprained or something else 
wrong, but the shod is never thought of as being th© 
cause. There are many mea who follow the business 
who never served an apprenticeship only long enough to 
learn to drive nails, ctilk a shoe and put it on, and are 
oftea employed because they will work cheap. There 
are other reasons why suck work is done and to the 
determent of the good, honest workman, who can and 
will do a good job. The man who works cheap will 
get the work of a great m^ny men and wh:) will say: 
"I got my hordes shod at saoh a place aad only cost 
a dollar or a dollar and a quarter," as the case may 
be, "and it is a g >od job because the shoes stick". 
Cheap workmen as a rule, are nearly all poor workmen. 
A man should change enou^jh so that he can afford to 
do a gooi j )b, or not do it at all. Then there are men 
who can c )mmind good wages anl a good jo'j, because 



20 How TO Shoe a Horse. 

they can tara out lots of wjrk and yet they canaofc tell 
a caatrdcted foofc whea they see it. Then there is 
another cause for poor shoeing. Some oae w.ll spend 
mouths of time on a case of show t o tak^s to the f air, 
have theai groind aad pali-^hed and plated, and the 
men who are judges — not kaoving agood job when they 
see it — give him a premium The truth is he cnnQot 
shoe a horse on correct principles to save hioal Yet he 
will get the work regardless of the nucnber of horses 
he ruins, and when they become lame say he is 
either lame in the shoulder, or chest, founrlered, or 
something of that kind. I want it understood that 
there are a large majority of horse- killers, called 
veterinary surgeons, when called to see a lame horse^ 
will say that there is Bomething wrong in the shoulder 
and will either blister the hair off, or will tell you to 
go to some certain horseshoer and get a concaved 
shoe put on. Just as well cut his tail off for a sore 
eye. I have had dozens of just such cases, where 
some would-be veterinary surge in had failed, affctr 
making the horse lame in the shoulder by blistering, 
I would take the horse and dress his feet a3 they 
should be and then in a short time the horse would 
begia to improve. 

Some men cut, carve and burn a horse's foot as if 
there was no more feeling in it than there is in a block 
of wood. They neither regard the feelings cf the horse 
nor the injury they do the owner, and do liot care as 
long as they get their pay. May God speed the time 
when all such persons will either have to learn enough 
to pass an examination oq the subject of horse-shoeing 
and natare of the horse's foot, or be compelled to quit 



How TO Shoe a Hoese. 21 

the busiues3. T woald like to sea the day scon come 
whea all thelejistatures of the states will pass such laws. 
I have lived and followed the business of horse skoing 
in five different states and all kinds of climates, hot 
and cold, wet and dry, and in all oojditioaij of 
roads and pavements, dry, sandy, wet, loam, hilly and 
rocky, cobble stoae, asphalt and m-^dern pavements, ss 
wall as limestone turnpikes, and kn »w tbat it is no use 
to Bay that th-^ pavements or the roads does this or that. 
I would much rather have a horse lame from goin^; 
bard-foot than from being shod. A little rest will cure 
one, but not the other. When a man undertakes to s^art 
a shop, be should understand kis busiuess and no man 
who owns a horse should let any man shoe h'm except 
an honorable smith, who will do just the Bame for a boy 
as he would do for h man. 

Corns. Their Cause and Cure. 

^ffhere is no disease so common in horses' 
M^feet as c jrns. At leaet three-foutths 
of the lameness in the feet are caused by 
tbem. 

CAUSES. 

There are seveial different causes for 

corns. 

Firat:— By the shoe being too short and bedding in 
at the angle of the heel and bruising the sole. 

Second: — By the shoe being too wide at the heels and 
having too much beaiing on the quarters. 

Third:— By having the shoe uneven and too much 
weight on the heele. 

Fourth: — By the feet being contracted. 




22 Hdw TO Shoe a Horse. 

HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM. 

First: — Bj the horse resting his feet in front of him 
and throwing the weight on his toes. 

Second : — Bj tenderness at the heel. 

Third : — Bj removing the shoe and pareing the foot 
and in the angle made by the uniting of the wall 
of the hoof and the bar of the foot will be noticed a dark 
red spot. But if caused by contraction it may not show 
for sometime. 

Fourth: — Bj the horse getting lame and by fever in 
the part; also by the wearing of the &hoe mostly at the 
toe and when traveling does not let the heels come 
down on the ground. 

Neglected corns are a constant source of trouble to 
he horse, and are very apt to fester and cause a quittor. 
Almost every day the writer has a case of corns that 
have festered and have to be treated. 

WHAT TO DO. 

Take off the shoe and pare out the corn thoroughly 
I sometimes have to make a hole two inches deep by 
one inch in circamference. Do not be afraid to get it all 
out. Then if it has been very sore use some of the 
nerve and bone linement while you fit the shoe. If the 
horse has to be put to work at once, which is generally 
the case, if you can use a bar-shoe do so; but be 
sure whatever kind of a shoe, whether a bar or plane 
shoe, keep the bearing off the heels not by bendieg the 
shoe but by pareing the heel down so the weight will 
not come on the corn. When your shoe is ready fill 
the cavity of the corn with the healing salve, and if 
necessary take a hot iron and melt it so it will fill 
every crevice in the heel. Put some cotton over it to 



How TO Shoe a Hobse. 23 

keep out the dirt, then apply the shoe but do not 
draw the shoe tight on the corn. Three nails on that 
side are suflBcient. Sometimes it will be Eeoess&ry to 
poultieo to take the fever out of the feet, bat a good 
way 16 to stand the feet in a tub of water and if 
warm so much the better. Do not let the shoes stay 
on over three or four weeks and be careful about let- 
ting the shoe reet on the heels. Apply the hoof 
ointment twice a week, and have the shoes fit so that 
they will follt^w tbe heels around to the frog 
Do not be afraid of hurting the frog by the shoes 
bearing against it as a great many people are; bevel 
the sboes out from the nail ho'.es back to the heels to 
prevent contraction. If you can use it, a bar-t-hoe is 
always best for corus, but always use a wide shoe 
at the heelt", that is a wide web, eo it will cover the 
heel and bar both. If the smith, or owner of the 
horse, will follow the directions laid down he will have 
no trouble with corns on his animals' feet. Always 
keep the feet soft. 

Quarter Crack, 

,'l^uarter cracks are a split or crack in the hoof, 
*^ usually on the ineide quarter, but sometimes on 
both and extending down the hoof from the top, and 
sometimes from top to bottom in a straight line, but 
sometimes croFS-wise of the foot. When through the 
hoof to the quick it causes much lameness. 

CAUSES. 

Generally speaking, poor shoeing is the most pro- 
lific cause of quarter cracks, and of many other diseases 
of the foot; haviDg the shoe throw all the weight on 



24 



H©w TO Shoe a Hokse. 



the quarter; contrafitioa of the feek; the feet gettieg dry 
and hard end by using hot shoes to fit with, thereby 
drying up the foot and preventing the natural aesretive 
functions of the feet to distribute the prepper nutrition 
to the hoof. The hoof is porua ai d the secretioDB ooze 
out and keep it healthy and glossy, but when improp- 
perly shod by burning and rasping the ©namel of the 
hoof it soon asi-nmes a dry, hard and d«ad appearance 
and ie liable to quarter aud toe crack. It is sometimes 
caused by the horse being driven over rough and uneven 
roads and pavements while the hoof is dry and hard. 

WHAT TO DO. 

The best way to cure a quar- 
ter crack, and it only is a quts- 
tion of time, is to Uf^e a bar 
shoe and do not let the weight 
of the shoe rest from the quar- 
ter crack back to the heels; 
then take a sharp knife and 
cut across the foot above the 
crack about thrte-fourths of j.n 
inch and far enough above the 
crack so it will not start agaic. 

Cut in the hair until it bleeds, use the nerve and bone 
liniment a few times around the cornet and the hoof 
ointment freely; but first get the foot Boft by poulticing 
Of soaking in warm water which will alFO allay the fever. 
Sometimes it will be necessary to close the crack by 
boring smal holes, putting small copper wiie to keep it 
to its place and prevent spreading. Careful shoeing 
and attention will be all that is eeedel If nece-pary 
the horse can be used every day with no inconveni- 
ence. I have cured numbers of quar'er oracks and the 
animal in continuous use. 




CLOSING A HOOF CKACK 
By tiie use of thin wire. 



How TO Shos a EOiSE. 



25 




Toe OP Sand Crack. 

^^re caused by drjneBg or briitlecesB 

'^ of the hoof Bud are in the front 

part of the fcoi aEd will haTS to be 

treated same as quarter cracke, except 

that in fitting the foot for the shoe, 

care mast be taken that the part of 

the foot where the ciack is must cot 

bear on the shoe. Clean cut the 

crack and put wires through it and 

pat two clips on the shoe one at each 

fide of the Ci-ack. Cut across the top, 
SAND CKACK. 

use our nerve and bone liniment and 
Fared away at the 
sides and bottom, the hoot ciotmeLt. Whenever the shoe 

to remove bearing . , , £ ^ v. i 

also method of gets loose, be very careful about 

shoeing with clips , . ,, , , , 

to support sides having the thee rest-t at once. 

of crack. 

Seedy Toe. 

^3 caused by putting clips on the 
^ shoes snd bnryiDg tbem m and 
pounding them back in the foot, 
biuisiog the toe aad cansiog a 
seperatiou of the horn and lamanie 
or the two layers of the horn 
that form the wall or crust of the 




SEEDY TOE. 



Showing llie separa- fci-t. 
tion of the wall from CUKE, 

the soft parts mider- ,, _ ., , . 

neath.j Pare the wall down so that it 

will not rest on the shoe. Clean out the crevice, fill it 

with healing ointment or tsr, and use the nerve and 




26 How TO Shoe a Hor-e. 

boue liniment on the coronet tj get up hwal'hy aotioDS 
and usea hoof oiutmeut freely. To prevent seedy toe 
do not use clips on the sloe and, if you do, d© not burn 
them in or pound them into the foot; but take the 
kaife and out a place for them. 

Quittop. 

tuittor is the name of a disease of 
the foot when the festering of 
any sore, works up through the hoof 
and breaks out at the top next to the 
heir. 

CAUSES. 

A QUITTOR. Greatly neglected and f«ht-red 

corne, gravel getting in thefoetacda 
In active suppura- .^^ ^^ ^ ^^.,^ 

tiou, before the pus 

has broken out at ^OW to distinguish it. 

the top. Quittor usually appears on the 

quarters and at tha heels, but m ^st generally on the in- 
ner quarter over the seat of a corn. After the horse has 
been lame some-time the swelling appears at the coronet. 
la some horaes the swelling is large and in a few days 
breaks and then matter is discharged. This relieves the 
horse to some extent. Sometimes the pain is so great 
that the animal will not put the foot on the ground. If 
neglected in a short time pipes will form, pointing 
downward in every direction, having a common 
center at the top. The foot becomes enlarged and out 
of its natural shape. It is very difficult to cure unless 
taken in time. 



How TO Shoe a Horse. 



27 




A QUirroR. 

After it has brokon 
out at the top. 



TRHATMENT. 

First open at the top, then poul- 
tioe tbe foot until it is soft, then open 
from tbe bottom to connect with the 
opening at the top. Use the nerve 
and bone linement freely a few times, 
afterwards apply the healing saWe and 
fill all the parts with it, even if yon 
have to use a hot iron to melt it in 
find wash with caetile soap. 

PKICK. 

Prick, from nails or nail wounds, may becaused by 
cririi g nails mthe quick when shoeing, end by picking 
up nails in the road, or by stepping on a board contain- 
ing nails. 

Having had a great deal of experience in this line, 
having treated hundreds of such wound* I will say I 
have never known ore that tver give me much trouble 
if take-n in time. As sorn as I find there has been a nail 
in the foot I take my knife and cut '"around the wound 
until every thing in the wey of blood or matter formed 
CBn escape. Then I either use spirits of terpentine 

freely or the nerve and bone liri- 
ment for a day or two. I then 
fill the space with the '"heeling 
ointment" run it in hot but always 
kftep cotton on the hole, or some- 
thing to keep tbe dirt out. If the 
horse cannot rest, 1 run rosin over 
the cotton to be certain that no 
dirt or gravel ^ets irjto the hole* 
but open it every day. THE SOLE OF A FOOT. 

You can rest assured that Showing nail wound and 
if you do that there will be no ^^d how to pare it out. 





28 How TO Shoe a Hokse. 

trouble. Sometimes it will be neccs*arj to poultice the 
foot to take the feyer out. li: is always be-.t to do so if 
poFsiable. 

Laminitis or Founder. 

his disease is of two kinds, acute &nd chronic. In 

^ acute laminitis the feet are very much fevered, the 

horse being in much paia does not like 

tj move in any direction, especially 

backwftrd, rests the most ot bis weight 

on the hind feet. Sometimea the front 

feet give him so much pain that he will 

not stand on them but lies down. You 

WEAK^OLE^ may always distinguish it by trying to 

Predisposed to back the h'-rse. He will sway hie body 
founder and pum- 
iced foot. bBck without moving his feet. 

There are several causes for this trouble, over work 
and over feed, hard driving, and getting the horse hot 
and then letting hffn cool off in a draught, drinking 
cold water when hoi, or, may originate from some other 
disease, and settle in the feet, they being the weakest 
part of the horse, or it may be caused by bad shoeing, 
causing the feet to become inflamed. Right here I will 
state that to my certain knowledge at least three horses 
in this city of Topeka, that I have treated have been 
caused by the same shoer. One of them where I com- 
menced treatment would not stand on his feet to eat . 
He was turned out to grass and would Jie down and 
eat grass. When brought to me Itol dthe owner I would 
cure him for ttn dollars or no pay. I commenced on him 
the 25th of June 1887, and to this date Aug. 16th 1889, 
he has not been lame after the first three weeks and is 
used every day on the pavment. I refer you to 8. A. 



How TO Shoe a Hobse. 29 

Steans and Howard Pierce, flour and feed dealers 1006 
Kansas Avenue, North Tepeka. 

When iuflamation t^etg in the leaves or lamina 
separate sometimes, and usually in ohronio laminitis 
a sunken place in the front part of the hcof, the toe 
inciiaed to turn up and on pareing the foot yea will 
fiod that there is at the toe a black, rough and dead 
space between the wall and sole. The separation con- 
tinues up the front part of the hoof, quite a distance, 
while the heels grow fast and incline forward bringicg 
them well under the foot, causing the horse to walk 
mostly on the heels. The bottom i>t the f ot soon tends 
to drop dovvn causing vvhat is known as pumice foot. 
If not attended in time, it is almost always past cure) 
very few cases ever getting well. 

CHRONIC LIMINITIS 

Will be known by the clumsintss of the horse especial- 
ly of the feet. The chest sunken and as some say 
chest founder, where the trouble is all in the foot. He 
W/U rest his feet on the heels and rings or ridges wilj 
form around the feet. Good shoeing and by keeping the 
feet well pared and ute tbe nerve and bone linement 
around the coronet, and hoof ointment freely, will re- 
lieve the horse a great deal. In the case of S. A. Stears' 
horse I blistered freely with the liniment, used the 
hoof ointment and a bar-shoe for a while. 

In acute or chronic iaminites it is best to first poul- 
tice the feet before shoeing, but whea first taken pare the 
feet close until they bleed at the toe, then use either hot 
bath or put on bandages and apply hot water freely. 
If taken in time there will be no trouble in effecting a 
cure. 



30 H©w TO Shoe a. Hokse. 

Pumiced Foot. 

lareful shoeing with ooncaye shoe, and getiiug a 
healthy action of the feet by ponltioing and 
ointment and blister Bround the coronet is about all 
that can be done for the animgl, 

Thrush. 

J s a disease of the frog, and ia caused by filth and 
^ by leaving sloes on too long, and not keeping the 
feet cleaned out. The frog will rot and soMetimes come 
out, and is very cffemsive. All that is needed is to 
wash the foot clean every day and use the "healing 
ointment. Keep the feet clean and yoa will ct^ver he»r 
of thrush. 

But in treating any unhealthy or diseases ol the foot 
keep the horse's system in good, healthy condition, as 
the cure will depend a great deal on the blood being in a 
healthy condition. Give salts, sulpher, ginger and rosin ^ 
the three last in equal proportions, keep your stable 
clean and well ventilated. Just look to the welfare of 
your horses, to keep him healthy as you would yourself. 

Contracted Feet. 

^J!^ contracted foot may be caused by the horse hiirN 
^^ ing his foot or leg, and not useing the foot, which 
wi'l let the muscles of the legs and the foot shrink ^ 
but the usaal causes of contraciion are the evils arisiog 
from improper shoeing, such as you can find in almo.^t 
any town. Shoeing wide at the bee^s with the shoes 
beveled m, all the way back t o the heelp, 'with the shoes 
eroseing the quarters instead of following the wall 
around to the heels, catnot do anything else but con- 



How TO Shoe a Hoese. 31 

tract the f jot, and cause corns, etc. Another cause is 
throwing the weight all on the heels and toe; drawing 
the quarters down with t!ie nails, bruising the heels 
causing them to ferer and get dry and haid, the frog 
dries up and then the first thing you know 7 our horde's 
feet begin to curl in at the heels, and any kiud of shoe- 
ing that will tend to bind the fo jt at the heels will sure- 
ly contract it. The high, strong heeled foot is the m«st 
easily cootraoted, but a flat foot once contracted is hard- 
er to cure. 

WHAT TO DO. 

Take your horse to the smith that will do the shoeing 
as laid down here, if he does not understand the veteri- 
nary part of his work, have him remove the shoes, but 
always have the clinches cut. Then have the feet pared 
down well at the toe. Open the heels well and if you 
can possiably spare the horse awhile (better hire one in 
his place,) poultice hie feet with the bran and lye poul- 
tice, flax-seed meal or anything to soften the foot. Then 
Lave a bar-shoe put on, the shoe bearing strong on the 
frog; be sure to not let it rest on the hee's and only use 
three nails on a side, next the toe. Use the hoof oint- 
ment freely, two to three times a week, and reset the 
shoes in three or four weeks If you cannot use a bar 
shoe let the shoe follow the heels to the frog. Do not 
have the shoe too long, and bevel the shoe out from the 
nail holes back to the heelp, good, strong bevel, and fit 
the heels the sb&pe of the shoe, but do not let it rest 
hard on the hee's. A good sboer can prevent the feet 
from contracting and also cure it, but a bungler never. 
Leaving the shoes on too loag will tend to contract tbe 
feet. If your horse is lame from contracted feet use the 
nerve and bone liniment oround the corronet and above. 



32 H©w TO Shoe a Hoese. 

Bs it will relieve the soreness of the navicular joint. It 
is the duty of every man that sh©es ft horee as well the 
owner to fully understand the principles of proper 
shoeing, and treatment of the horse's feet. Aa the time 
ha^ come when no man ©ught to drive a nail in a foot 
without takJE^ a course of instruction on the Bcieace 
and art of the treatment of the feet, and also on the 
Siracture of the fo't, there is no excase for not under- 
standing the bu-iafss thoroughly, except that of gain 
without giving an equivalent. 

Neviculer Diseaes. 

Iphe principle cau^e is spraia of the tendons that 
^'i^ pass between the frog and navicular bone. By a 
bad case of contraction, or anything that will cause the 
joint to become fevered and remaining so. The trouble 
will affecst the horse so that he will be resting first one 
foot in front of him and th-^n the other. His gait U 
short and clumsy, stumbles and wears the shoe off at the 
toe. 

Treat the feet the same as for contracted fee^, but 
•hoe with the heeis of the ehoe half an inoh higher thau 
the toe. If taken in time it is no trouble to effect a eve. 

Garvel. 

(gravel is the result of a gravel or some oiher bard 
^ substance getting in the foot, generally between 
the wall and the sole where they unite, or at the heel in 
the corn, or any hole in the foot. Pare the foot do'-vu 
and after finding the place cut around it and remove it, 
and apply the linimeut or turpentine for a day or 
two, then use the healing ointment. Gravel if neglected 
will make the borse very lame and will work up through 
the foot and form quit tor. 



How TO Shoe a Morse. 33 

Bruises of the Sole. 

fftused by treading on a stone in travcliag. Find 
where the soreness is and opain it, and ii8e either 
the liniment or turpentine a d»j or two; then fill th« 
hole witb hot galve and you will have no more trouble 
with it. 

Calks. 

iM^re no trouble if you will put the healing ointment 
^^^ on and it will take the sorenetfs out, but they will 
have to have time to grow out. Be careful when near 
the bottom of the hoof tbat they do not cau^e the hoof 
to split and cause either toe or quarter crack. Better 
keep the hoise shod. 

Side Bones. 

W 8 the hardening or ossificatiou of the latere! cartila- 
^ ges or gristle that extends from the wings of the 
coffin bone to above the qaarters. When tlio feet are 
sound they are soft, but whea ossified, or beccme side 
bone, are very hard and are ea&ily felt with the hand, 
above the quarters. All the way you can do to relieve 
the horse is to make the feet eprend out at the heels, and 
as well at the top arouad the qua- ters by shooing as for 
contracted feet, and blistering the sides where the bones 
are, frequently. Keep the foot soft and use the hoof 
ointment freely. 

Side bones are caused by bruises or by contraction, 
or the result of navicular disease, or by getting the foot 
fast and hurting the quarrers and iatiamation setting 
in. A good way to allay pain in the feet ib to stand 
them in a tub of varm water. 



34 How TO Shoe a Hoese. 

Interfering. 

^ 8, as a rale, the ftiulty action of the h"«rsG in handle- 
^ ing his feet and sometimes the fault of the omith. 
If a horse interferes first find ont the part of the foot 
he strikes with and then let th® shoe set, a little under 
the foot at that place, and leave the n&il out at the 
part he strikes. Rasp the clinches close and round off 
the foot a little next to the shoe leaving it over the sboe. 
It requires a good deal of judgement sometimes to stop 
a horse from interfer'ng. Sometimes it requires a side 
weight with the heavy weight inside. I never ha \re 
known a side weight shoe, properly set with the weight 
on the inside, to fail and I have used lots of them, 
although most men u?e the weight on the outside. The 
worst interfering hor?© I oversaw was a mare at St. John 
Kansas, owned by Fred. Smith, and she cut both her 
front legs from her koeee to her pastern joint. I used 
the side weight on the inside and effected a permanent 
cure. 

FORGING. 

Also requires a great deal of judgement. Sometimes 
it is riecess ijy to make them spread out their hind feet, 
with side weights. I use side weight shoes som tiTm 
on in«ido and sometimes in the outside, paring the toe 
of the front f«ot down pretty well and the heels of the 
hind feet, leaving the toe of the shoe on the hind foot to 
set back of the toe and do not rasp it off You will have 
to be guided a great deal by the horse. On a roadster 
use a heavy shoe in front, and very light behind. By 
careful driving and noticing how the horse handles bis 
feet, will depend a great deal, in fact it is half in the 
driver. 



How T© Shoe a Horse. ^^ 

Hot FittSng. 

y deBOunoo the practic® of hst fitti»g, or in okber 
$ words to heat a ekoe red hot and pr?6a it down on 
th« foot, and burn it in uatil the smoke fills the shop, 
as some do. In tbe first place it is injnrione to the foot 
for it dries up tae foot, and deadoifts the ibeil or wall 
of th© hoof, and stops the »aftarBi flow of the secrelioss 
of the foot, by closing the pores of the hoof ; yoa vrill 
always find a foot of thnt kind brittle and dead. I hare 
shod horsts in all kiods of olimates, wet and dry, and 
nevi^r yet have I fonnd it necessary to barn a foot in 
order to dress it; tbe emitbs eay it will not hart tbe foot 
or tbe horse, but there are only two raasons why they 
fit with a hot Bhoe, one ia the foot cuts easier and tfeey 
can bed the shoe down so as to have an equal bearing 
all arouDd, saving time to the injory of the horse. Tbe 
secofid is the smith cannot fit a shoe level and drees the 
tbe foot level to receive tbe sboe and so you see he says 
hot fitting is tbe best, regardless of tbe iDJnry he does 
the foot or the damage he does tbe owner. I denounce 
hot fitting as tbe twin relic of barbarism. 

Scratches or Grease. 

J s a sure sign of neglect of the owner or driver by not 
5 keeping tbe legs and feet clean. Tbe cavity above 
the hoof is furnished with a large number of seereting 
and excieting glands, and when the horse is in good 
health tbese glands or vessles keep tbe parts scft and 
lubricates the external portion and preserves tbem 
against friction, irration and disease, while the system 
is relieved of impure matter. Anything to check this 
or cause it to become irritated will have a tendency to 



36 How TO Snos a Hoe?e. 

inflame and cause it to becoma sore. If taken in time 
EO trouble to cure. I have koowQ and cured capes 
with oaly wa^hiBg with good castife poap and batbing 
in Kalt water. If kept clea:s, and U5e the bealii-'g o ( t- 
ment they will soon bave it cured. Wbeo c-.f louc; stund- 
ing they are troublesome to cure and will tak« t^ou e- 
time; bat it is dangerous to get any of the matter ou 
your hand, and yon bad better be osreful. Giro con- 
dition powufcr-j t > get the system in good conditioc. 
Keep the stab?e clean and well ventilated and wit \ 
good oare they will heal aliright. 

Cracked heel*? may be tceated the eame as f^rr-ase 
or scratehr-s. 



TO WELD CAST STEEL. 

fo weld cast steol trtke one poand of borax, pulverize, 
and take one oz. each of carbooafce of iron and sal- 
ammoniac, mixtd well tog»^ther. A better wsy is to melt 
the borax snd sal-smmoniac together End when dry pul- 
verize aod mix in the iron. There is no better compound 
made for welding eteal. 

To restore burnt steel: "When }ou find your steel is 
burnt, don't hit it with the hammer bat plunge in cold 
water and cool it, heat again and work it; acd it as 
good as tver. To case-harden iren or f-teel, heat to a 
ch-rryr»d ami roll ia prussiateof potaeh; heat again^and 
cool off. 

TO TEMPER xMILL PICKS. 
Salt-peter and Alum each 2 z., Sal-ammoniac 
ioz., Salt lilbs., Soft water 3 gals. Heat to 
a cherry-red and cool. 



How TO Shoe a Hoese. 37 

Recipes. 

HOOF OINTMENTS. 

No. 1. 

Neats-foot oil - 1 pint. 

Oil Oraganum - 4oz. 

Oil Tar - - 6 " 

Turpentine - - 6 " 

A nnmbar ooe! It acts as a linimeut on the foot. 

No. 2. 

Neats foot oil, Fieh oil and Turpentine equal 

parts. Is a good hoof oiatmtnt and keeps 

tbe foot soft. 

No. 3. 
3 lbs. lard, one pint pine tar and one pint tur- 
pentine. Very good. 

No. 4. 
1 gal. crude petroleum, 1 pint oil tar, i pint 
oraganum, and 1 pint turpentine. Is first- 
class to soften the hoof and take the soreness 
out. 
I have us=d all of tne above hoof ointments, and 
know thnt ihey are good and all of them but one are 
my o\Tr» pericription. Use them in all diseases of the 
feet siKh as quarter and toe crack, contracted feet, 
naviculur lameness, &c. &g. 

BLUE OINTMENT. 
R:>sin 4:^z., Verdigres |^")z., Turpentiae 2oz., 
Mutton taiiow 21bs , Oil oraganum |oz., 
Tiuet. iodine ^; z., mix well. Good for 
scratches, fistula, cut?, e^;. 

WHITE OINTMENT. 
For sprain?, bruises, swellingp,ete. Fresh but- 



38 H©w TO Shoh a Hobse. 

ter 2lbs., Tincfc. iodine Joz,, Oraganum foz., 
mix well us» at night rubbing in well. 

A GOOD OINTMENT IS : Turpentine and lard, 
for flesh cuts or bruises. Or carbolic acid 
and water ia good for outs. I have cured 
bad cuts on horses with this alone. I naed 
the latter to cure nasal gleet in a mare and 
did cure her after a few applications. Pat a 
fine sponge on a slender stick 14 inches loag 
and put up the nose. 

THE SUN CHOLERA GUEE. 

This remedy I have used myself for ten years 
in my family, and know of a great many 
who used it with saccese. It will cure colic, 
cholera morbus, cramp or pain in the stom- 
ach, or bowels in five minutes either in 
man or horse. Is wcrth its weight in gold. 
Take equal parts of tincture of opium, capsi- 
cum, rheubarb, essence of pepermint, spirits 
of camphor; 15 to 30 drops for man every 20 
to 30 minutes until relieved, and to horse 9 
times as much. 

COLIC. 

Asafoetida lump large as thumb disolved in 
warm water will never fail to cure colic. 
MIXTURE FOR COLIC. 

Sweet spirits nitre IJoz., Tincture opium loz. 
Extract ginger ^oz. Mix and give as one 
dose in one-half pint of water. 

FOR COLIC. 
Perry Davis' Pain Killer, 25g bottle at one dcse. 
I knew it to cure a valuable stallion when 



How TO Shob a Hoese. 39 

led out to die, and giren up by four good 
Veterinary B. Aud one dose done the work 
and cured him. 

REMEDY FOR HEAVES. 

Take arsenic just what will lay on the point of 
a pen-knife and give in feed two to throe 
times a week. 

COLDS IN HORSES. 

Give tar and burn tar under their nose, put 
sack over noee to make them breath all the 
smoke poesible and give the condition 
powders: rosin, gingar, snlpher and gentian 
equal parts; mix and give tablespoonful in 
feed twice a day. This is better than any 
you buy and does not coat half as much. 

WATTS' NERVE AND BONE LINIMENT. 

This liniment caonot be equaled for all kinds 
of sprains in horses or man, rheumatism, 
lame back, navicular lameness in horeee, etc. 
It will blister a horse in a few minutes. 
GREEN MOUNTAIN SALVE. 

Ro^io 51bs, Burgundy pitch. Bees-wax, and 
Mutton tallow each one-fourth of a pound; 
Oil of hemlock, Balsam of fir. Oil of oragan- 
um, Oil red cedar,and Venice turpentine each 
loz. ; Oil worm- wood one-half oz., Verdigris 
finely pulverized one oz. Melt the first arti- 
cles together and then add the oils; having 
mixed the verdigris with the ©ils, stir well 
and paur in cold water and work as wax. A 
very fiDe salve. 
In a great many cases of foot diseases or where the 



40 How TO Shoe a Hoese. 

sjstem is deranged it will be necessary to give either 
condition'powdere or tonio powder, and yom should always 
bear in mind that the blood should be cleansed if not in 
healthy condition. Salts is about as good for the blood 
as you can get given in email do^es; for the general 
system the condition powers are good, and sometimes 
yoa will want a tonic powder or mixture. 
TONIO POWDERS, 
Sulphate of iron IJoz , Nitrate of potash loz., 
Fenugreek seed loz., Gentian loz., Capsicum 
2 drams, Liosefd meal 4oz. Mix and give a 
tableepoonful night and morning. 
TONIO MIXTURE. 
Tincture of iron loz.. Tincture of Gentaia loz , 
Water lOoz. Mix well a«d give two tab'e- 
spoonsful three time a day. 
WATTS' VETERINARY HEALING OINTMENT. 
"Will cure all kinds of sores, barb-wire cute, 
burns, bruises, swellings on either animal or 
human flesh, corns on horse or man, boils or 
any skin disease, piles, erysipelas, gresse 
scratches, tkrush, etc. Either of the liniment 
or ointment, alwaj's kept on hand a+ my shop 
and pold in 25c, 50c, and one dollar bottles 
or box, or the two together. Send and get 
S5c samples of each, poet paid. Can furnish 
plenty of testimonala to the good of the 
above. 

TESTIMONIALS. 
This certifies that J. E. Watta commericed shoeing a 
mule for me, about harvest, that was so badly contracted 
that she could not be used on the road. I n^ver had any 



How TO Shoe a Hoese. 41 

man tiioe her that could do the mule any good. But 
now, s-nce Me. Watts has ebod her and treated her feet, 
she travels allright. A. Ingeam, 

D3C. 24th, 1888. Grantville, Kap. 

This is to certify that I had a very lame horee. I 
took him to J. E. Watts and he fcund that con s had 
f.steied. He c peoed thtm well and put in his healing 
ointment and put on the shoes and tbe horse has no^ 
been lame since. He has shod tbe horse three bmes. 

Gto. W. Smith, 

Sept. 26th, 1889. Topeka, Kas. 

I TAKE pleasure in recommending Mr. J. E. Watts, 
Veterinarian aud Farrier of North TojDPka, to any one 
having a horse afflicted with lameness. My horse had 
been quite lame ia be th front feet for about two years 
when Mr. Watts began treatment, and a perceptable 
improvemeut followed his first shoeing. After bix 
months treatment with no loss of the use of my horse 
her feet seemed to be in perfect condition and all lame- 
ness gone. H. S. Eeecing, 

Feb. 25th, 1889. Topeka, Kas- 

Me. J. E. Watts has shod my horse for about one 
year, and when he began shoeing the horte phe had 
corns in both fore feet and they were also contracted, 
and interfered with her hind fi-et, all of which disappear- 
ed on account of h's treatment and shoeing. 

Oct. 1st, 1889. W. M. Pattee, 

Topeka, Kas. 

This is to certify that we have ahorse that had a bad/ 

quarter crack, and none of tbe blacksmiths ever helpe-^ 

it until Mr. J. E. Watt?, veterinary horseshoer, comme^x'- 

ced on him, and he has completely cured the qupr^®^ 



42 How TO Shoe a House. 

crack, as also stopped lamentBS on another liorae that 
had corcB and contracted feet. 

Andekson & Sok:, 
Coal Dealers, Topeka, Kas. 
I BOUGHT a horse that had a qaarter crack of long 
standing and toek him to J. E. Watte, who has perform- 
ed a perfect cure and the feet are allright. Also stopped 
lameness on a horse that had corns. Never lost the use 
of horses a day in the time. 

E. L. Ball, 
Expressman, Topeka, Kas. 
To whom it may concern : This will certify that my 
carriage horae was affected with soft corns and at times 
quite lame. Since haviag him shod by Mr. Watts he 
has shown no signs of lameness. I believe him to be per- 
manently cured. I. W. Pack, 

North Topeka, Kansas. 

I HAVE used Watt's Veterinary Healing Oinment on 
my horse, that got hurt in a run away and it proved en- 
tirely satisfactory in every respect. I. F. Beery, 

North Topeka, Fans as. 
»,■ 
T WANT to say that J. E. Watts has cured a horse of 

contracted feet for me. I used the horse all the time. 

This will certify that I have cured a horse of sore neck 

with J. E. Watts' Veterinary Healing Ointment that 

had been sore two years; also one of my horses bit th^ 

other clear through the lip and the Ointment cured it in 

a few days. W. T. Craig, 

North Topeka, Kansas. 



How TO Shoe a Hokse. 43 

WATTS' 

Nerve - and - Bone - Llnement 

for man or beast 

Has do equal for Sprains or Bruises, Lame Back, 
Eheumatism of Muscles or Joints in Man, and Swell- 
ing in Throat or Legs, Laminitis or Navicular Disease in 
Horses. Try it; and be convinced.. Put up in 25c, 50c 
and $1 sizes. If your dealer does not keep it address 
the manufacturer. Prepared only by J. E. Watts, 

No. 1020 Kansas Ave. North Topeka Kansas. 



WATT'S 

Veterinary Healing Ointment 

Is a remedy that no horseman or stock-raiser should b^, 
without, as it is a sure cure for all kinds of old sores, 

such as 
Fistula, Pole Evil, Boils, Sho© Boils, 

Harness or Saddle Galls, 
All kiods of Barbed Wire Guts, Sore Throat or Mouth, 

Lymphatitis, Swelling of the Legs, 

Thrush, Foot Rot, Scratehes, Grease Heels, 

Mange, Contracted Fe»t or Oorna in Horses. 

FOR MAN 

It is unsurpassed in the cure of Cuts, Burns, Bruises, 
Boils Salt Rheum, Eczema, Tetter, Itch, Erysipelas, 
Piles, Corns, and all kinds of skin diseases. Put up in 
25o 50c and $1 packages. Prepared by J. E. Watts, 
No. 1020 Kansas Avenue. North Topeka, Kansas 



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